Rapt to be back in the fold

Dean Jones

Buddies: Australian captain Michael Clarke with Dean Jones before play on Friday. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

WHAT a week I've had. Seven days with the Australian team: in the rooms, rubbing shoulders with our finest cricketers, bowling in the nets, attending all the meetings. It's been the greatest experience, every cricket fan's dream. Here's how the week evolved.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23

I don't know why, but I was nervous as hell driving into the MCG. Walking into the dressing room was a bit nerve-racking because I don't know many of the boys, let alone Mickey Arthur, the Australian coach. Within two minutes, though, I was feeling a lot better. Arthur was so welcoming and is just a terrific guy. I was given all the training gear and out I stepped as a mentor to the team. Michael Clarke introduced me so well, I felt a little embarrassed. All the players shook my hand as if I was a newly-capped player. I will never forget the respect they showed.

An official team huddle: Team Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris and Australian coach Mickey Arthur talk with Michael Clarke. Photo: Scott Barbour

We went into the nets and the boys hit the ball well. I was so impressed with everyone. Everything is so well prepared. Each player knew when it was his time to bat as everything was written on whiteboards. Everyone knew when they were batting and who they had to face. Clarke is in good spirits, but he still has hamstring concerns and goes off for an MRI scan.

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There is a plethora of support staff. Everyone knows their job.

I look at the pitch and thought it would be a nice toss to lose. We could hurt the Sri Lankans as batting in the first session here is quite daunting.

MONDAY

I notice straight away the intensity from all the staff and players lifts to another level. Now the Test bowlers are bowling in the nets.

I see James Pattinson bowling again which brought a smile to my face. Clarke walks into the nets and after 20 minutes of work he is going OK, but not fantastic. Then he slips into the net where the Test bowlers bowl to him and POW … He starts smashing them everywhere. After five minutes Pup [Clarke] calls me into his net for a chat. He says it takes him nearly 20 minutes to get back into the groove and to feel ''good'' again. He doesn't know why, but he is jealous that it only takes Ricky Ponting 10 balls to feel the same way. He just flushed it for the next 10 minutes and I know he is playing, but he won't tell the press or his players.

After a fantastic session of fielding, meetings are being organised. Ali de Winter, the bowling coach, calls a meeting for his bowlers. He can show the weaknesses of all the Sri Lankan batsmen and I have no doubt they will use the bouncer more.

Soon after our batsmen have a meeting, led by batting coach Stuart Law. I was asked about my thoughts on batting at the MCG. Law wanted me to expand on the importance of the roles of batting in the top four, and the responsibility of going on to make a big hundred if you get a start.

I reminded them all that running between the wickets seems to be more difficult at the MCG due to the size of the crowd, the size of the ground and the importance of such a match.

We learn that the selection panel will continue with its rotation policy and that Mitchell Starc is out. He's not happy and said to me: ''The reason I'm upset is that we could win the series here and I want to be part of that. This Test match is so special to all of us.'' I felt the disappointment he showed. But he's a classy bowler who will get over this frustration and take it out on some batsmen. Surprisingly, no player talks about the rotation policy. Not once!

WEDNESDAY, DAY ONE

I arrive nervous as hell. I can tell that Pup is playing because he is so bubbly and has a cheeky grin. A huge crowd turn up as Bill Lawry presents Jackson Bird with his Test cap. Bill spoke from the heart and sledged the chairman of selectors along the way and made everyone laugh. A perfect speech from a guy who should have a statue somewhere around the MCG.

I notice the team is very cool and calm before they go out to bowl - Bird and Johnson were hardly in a sweat. Sri Lanka bats and at 2-27, with Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene at the crease, I lean across to Arthur and say, ''If Sidds can get a wicket in the next 10 minutes, this game is over''. Bang. Siddle knocks over the Sri Lankan skipper and I said, 'It's time to relax'.

Sri Lanka is all out for 156 and I was keen to see how Ed Cowan and Dave Warner would go about batting. They were brilliant, but Warner holed out at deep square-leg hooking, and another great start was thrown away. He will learn that he must turn some of these starts into hundreds. But he has only played 25 first-class games and we need to cut him some slack. He is a special kid and can ruin an opposition in an hour.

Then we lose another two wickets and allow Sri Lanka back into the game. Thanks to Pup and Watto's [Shane Watson] efforts, and some poor Sri Lankan fielding, we nearly had a ripper of a day. The boys don't hang around. They don't mix with the opposition. That went out long ago.

THURSDAY, DAY TWO

What a great session it was for Australia and this seals the game. Clarke and Watson put on 88 runs and it's just a matter of time when these two make a hundred. Clarke was first.

When he got out he looked at the honours board to see why they haven't got his name up there already. Sadly, Watto got out for 83. He played well but I feel he needs to be more aggressive once he gets past 40.

I noticed that once batsmen got out there was no tantrums or outbursts. No bat throwing. They just watch their dismissal on the TV, mumble a bit and move on. I really love that attitude.

It was nice to see Mitchell Johnson make 73 not out. He played well and looks in a great place. It made me think, who are our best four bowlers when we meet England in six months?

I caught up with my past Australian teammate Peter Taylor. He brought his young boy Charlie to watch the Test. ''PT'' doesn't ask for tickets. He pays his own way. They were having a great time - a special time between father and son. PT loves an argument. I didn't give him one but I missed his company.

The boys want this Test finished tomorrow. I wonder who has got the honour of singing ''Beneath the Southern Cross I stand …''

FRIDAY, DAY THREE

Arrived at the MCG today thinking we would be drinking champagne tonight. I was hoping that Johnson would score 100 to back up his four wickets.

Sadly, it wasn't to be - he ran out of partners on 92.

Sri Lanka had the task in front of it and within minutes had lost its third wicket for three runs.

Sri Lanka wasn't good today, albeit we did bowl well. They only lasted 67 overs for their two innings. They have got some serious decisions and cultural changes to make.

I have been in their place and understand what it feels like. The West Indies did the same to us in 1988.

It was sad to see Sangakkara break a finger. That's about the fourth international batsman I've seen cop breaks from Johnson's bowling.

The team was quickly off the ground, though Michael Hussey took advantage of the vacant MCG and went out and bowled to son William, 8, for about half-an-hour.

When the boys post a serious win, there's a tradition to uphold - it hasn't changed in 18 years. The chairs gather around Clarke and Hussey and they belt out ''Underneath the sprig of wattle I stand …''